VIN 12306 'Auryn' : RHD twin turbo rebuild

[DMCH James]

Theoretically James, if you created a "new" car and had it inspected by the State of Texas and they assigned you a kit-car type VIN, could you stamp it on one of those blank plates and fix it to the car?

No, no one could do that either. That plate says, at the top, "Manufactured by DeLorean Motor Cars, Ltd" - and though I'm led to believe that Martin has a colorable claim to that name in the UK, legally it's not the same company. The plate also says that the "vehicle conforms to all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety and Bumper standards in effect on the date of manufacture" - which obviously could not happen.

In Texas, when you are given an assigned VIN, the state also gives you a VIN plate - like this one: http://www.lambobuilder.com/mycar/lic2.JPG

James

[Starglider]

Here is the situation as simply as I can put it;
* I agreed to purchase an RHD conversion 'registered, MOTed and on the road'.
* I was expecting it to be a rebuild of an existing non-running car for both cost and legal reasons.
* I later found out that the build was not based on any existing registered vehicle.
* I asked if this meant an IVA and/or Q-plate was needed
* The answer was no, because the vehicle was already substantially complete just not registered with DVLA.

I do not have any further details and frankly I am trusting the vendor to have a solid plan for this.
That said, I would not be particularly bothered by a 2012 reg or Q-plate as resale value is not a major concern.

[Daniel Shane]

and though I'm led to believe that Martin has a colorable claim to that name in the UK, legally it's not the same company.

Hi James,

That man has no rights to the DMCL name in the UK, who told you that load of rubbish ? . The company is closed and dissolved and as such anyone can take claim to the name.

Have a look here http://wck2.companieshouse.gov.uk/ce915 ... 03&#result

The Original DMCL was De Lorean mine was Delorean.

Dan

[bozzzydmc]

Think you need to look into this a bit more than you have already buddy, having no vin plate means a lot more than you think ...

No vin means tests and a Q plate .. unless your making up your own vin plates and telling the DVLA you found it unregistered in a barn...

Just my 2p

Mike

Here is the situation as simply as I can put it;
* I agreed to purchase an RHD conversion 'registered, MOTed and on the road'.
* I was expecting it to be a rebuild of an existing non-running car for both cost and legal reasons.
* I later found out that the build was not based on any existing registered vehicle.
* I asked if this meant an IVA and/or Q-plate was needed
* The answer was no, because the vehicle was already substantially complete just not registered with DVLA.

I do not have any further details and frankly I am trusting the vendor to have a solid plan for this.
That said, I would not be particularly bothered by a 2012 reg or Q-plate as resale value is not a major concern.

[Starglider]

Think you need to look into this a bit more than you have already buddy, having no vin plate means a lot more than you think...

I have checked my earlier correspondance on this subject; the VIN plate is original to the car, it was just dismounted for the RHD conversion work. So the VIN is valid, it just didn't get to the stage of being registered as an on-the-road vehicle. I do not know exactly where the number comes from - maybe it's one of the chassis sent to WH that was not successfully converted. I will ask next time I visit.

I apologise for any accidental disparagement of DMC Texas etc earlier, which was due to my mistaken understanding of what 'incomplete car' meant in this case.

[bozzzydmc]

Well it's good to know it has a vin ! .. What's the number buddy ?

And why did you 'want' to change it ?

[DMCH James]

Well, I can't imagine Chris would do anything unless it was completely above board, but the fact remains that VIN 12306 is so far out of line with the known sequence of VINs that it seems unusual that, just now after 30 years, the DeLorean community is just now learning about it's existence. Several of us here, including myself and Alistair, have spent hundreds upon hundreds of hours over the years researching and analyzing the VIN history of thousands of DeLorean cars.

If it *is* a WH car that was not successfully converted and the VIN is a valid factory issued VIN, then I would wager the car would have more value as a successfully converted car with NO other modifications. If the VIN provenance cannot be indubitably established, then that's a different story.

It's believed that the vast majority, if not all, WH cars were actually VERY early production cars that were deemed "unsaleable" by the factory and shipped off to be experimented upon in the quest for discovering the quickest and most cost-effective route to enter the RHD market.

It sounds to me as you have embarked on a very interesting project, I look forward to hearing more about it as it progresses - please don't let our well-intentioned inquiries cause you to cease your participation in this useful forum.

James Espey
Vice President
DMC (Texas)

Think you need to look into this a bit more than you have already buddy, having no vin plate means a lot more than you think...

I have checked my earlier correspondance on this subject; the VIN plate is original to the car, it was just dismounted for the RHD conversion work. So the VIN is valid, it just didn't get to the stage of being registered as an on-the-road vehicle. I do not know exactly where the number comes from - maybe it's one of the chassis sent to WH that was not successfully converted. I will ask next time I visit.

I apologise for any accidental disparagement of DMC Texas etc earlier, which was due to my mistaken understanding of what 'incomplete car' meant in this case.

[Starglider]

Well it's good to know it has a vin ! .. What's the number buddy ?

The number is as stated; it hasn't been changed (at least, not since 1982). I don't know the frame number, will check that as well when I next visit.

[bozzzydmc]

Well it's good to know it has a vin ! .. What's the number buddy ?

The number is as stated; it hasn't been changed (at least, not since 1982). I don't know the frame number, will check that as well when I next visit.

Thanks for the reply ...Ask Chris how he came by this car the next time you are talking about it eh .. we are all very interested to know why it has such a higher vin number than any that has been known of in the past .. I will drop him a PM anyway as he is a member on here ...

When are you next with the car it would be great to see some pics ..along with a couple of the vin plates

Mike

[Starglider]

It sounds to me as you have embarked on a very interesting project, I look forward to hearing more about it as it progresses - please don't let our well-intentioned inquiries cause you to cease your participation in this useful forum.

It's ok, it is better to get this clear now rather than later.

In the mean time perhaps there is something else you could assist with. There has been some debate (in relation to this project) about whether VIN 805 (destroyed by fire in 1993) had a Legend Industries engine or a later twin-turbo conversion. Originally we believed it did but the piping does not match the known Legend engines (although it does not match the Island kit either). This may just be variation in the prototypes or it could be a separate conversion (unfortunately the turbos and intercoolers are no longer with the engine).